EDITORIAL: Farewell and thanks, Mr. Birch

“We pay close attention to the SAE magazines because your guy in Europe writes interesting articles,” a BMW engineering executive told me one year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. He was referring to Stuart Birch, our veteran European Editor, who has recently decided - after nearly 37 years of outstanding reporting for SAE International - to hang up his keyboard and spend more time with his wife, Kim, their family and friends in the British countryside, and his classic Porsche 911.

Our staff had been dreading the day that Stuart would announce his retirement, foremost because he's been a great friend as well as a colleague. And because journalists with his qualities - professionalism, perspective, a powerful work ethic and great wit - are increasingly rare in the mobility-technology space. As SAE's global audience knew, Stuart Birch delivered compelling technical and business information. He covered product, processes and people with equal poise. And he thrived on the R&D beat: Virtual reality. Batteries. Thermal management. 3D printing. Electronics and sensors. Artificial intelligence. Smart materials. Testing tools. Advanced aerodynamics.